Kat Kristof is interested in the architecture of people. After striving to untangle the meaning behind emotions and reactions, she developed an ability to inhabit the present moment, stopping herself being lost in thoughts and impressions. This is when the portraits began to arrive. Focusing on the pure ‘consciousness’, as she calls it, behind every thought converted complex human emotions into logical patterns. Facial expressions are distilled into shapes and line, a slight angle of the brush transforming a feeling of elation to one of sadness. Kat enjoys being with the canvas; the confusion of interaction is lost when she paints. She is in the present moment, purely focusing on the right colour, the right mark, transmitting the purity of what she sees in the eyes of her subject.  

This way of thinking has been informed by Kat’s training as an architect and interior designer. Her eye naturally notices structures behind all things, fluently distilling complex forms such as buildings and figures into geometrical elements.  

Kat’s Him & Her series are representations of a universal person but also, inevitably, are versions of herself. She uses sketches of people she finds on the beach, in a life drawing class, or from editorial images to construct a blurred and unique version of a face. She, the painter, is looking at herself in the image that flows from the brush. ‘One me is looking at another me, questioning the truth behind this person, this ‘me,’ questioning their feelings and thoughts.’  

For more information: https://www.katkristof.co.uk